Winds will take your breath away

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On May 6, the Mercyhurst Wind Ensemble will give a concert in the Performing Arts Center.
The ensemble, directed by Scott Meier, Ph.D., will be playing a variety of music from traditional literature to newer contemporary works.
“Each piece has a lot of character, and each piece is so starkly different that getting bored is a real improbability,” said Caden Gilson, junior Music major.
One of the pieces offered is the English Folksong Suite by the famous English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958).
The Wind Ensemble will perform all three movements.
“The movements contain themes that the public will recognize as traditional English folksongs,” said Gilson.
“It’s a fun piece with contrasting movements, and the folk songs make it a really high energy piece.”
On the program is an arrangement of Leonard Bernstein’s “Slava!,” transcribed for concert band.
“It’s a fun, quirky, showy piece,” said Gilson. “It contains mixed meter, and it keeps the audience on their toes.”
“Slava!” includes many themes the audience may be familiar with, including the well-known “Slava Chorus” (“Glory Chorus”) from the Russian composer Mussorgsky’s famous opera, Boris Godunov (from the Pushkin play of the same name).
The ensemble will also play “Instinctive Travels” by Michael Markowski.
The piece, by the American film score composer, is written for wind band.
“This piece creates a feeling of heroism, represented with fanfare like themes, from the trumpets, as well as some dark sounds from the low brass, which leaves the audience feeling as if they’ve been on a fantastic journey via sound and music, along with the Wind Ensemble,” said Gilson.
“People will enjoy this concert because music is so alive,” said Gilson.
“Each piece makes a statement and has a purpose that I think will be understood by audience. The audience will really be able to feel and relate to the music of this concert as they listen rather than just listening.”